Identify the incorrect statement among the following:

The correct answer is Option (2) → Quantization and conservation are only two basic properties of electric charge.

The question asks for the incorrect statement, so each statement is checked in turn.

Option (1) Electric and magnetic forces determine the properties of atoms and bulk matter. — Correct statement. Electric forces (together with magnetic forces) hold electrons in atoms and bind atoms and molecules together, so they determine the properties of atoms and bulk matter.

Option (2) Quantization and conservation are only two basic properties of electric charge. — Incorrect statement. Electric charge has three basic properties: additivity, quantisation and conservation. Leaving out additivity makes the statement wrong.

Option (3) The ratio of electric force and gravitational force between a proton and an electron is approximately 2.4 × 10³⁹. — Correct statement. For a proton and an electron at any separation r, \( F_e/F_G = \frac{e^{2}}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 G m_p m_e} \approx 2.4\times10^{39} \), since both forces vary as \( 1/r^{2} \).

Option (4) An electric dipole is a pair of equal and opposite charges separated by some distance. — Correct statement. An electric dipole is a pair of equal and opposite charges q and −q separated by a distance 2a.

NCERT (2026-27):
Summary – “… Electric charge has three basic properties: quantisation, additivity and conservation.”